Meet Daniel Silvas of Venice, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Silvas

Hi Daniel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Art was my first true passion. As a child, I used it as an escape from witnessing domestic violence. I had an alcoholic father, physically and emotionally abusive step-siblings and a very religious mother. Quite the recipe for a troubled childhood, right? Anyway, as a kid I suffered from anxiety, self-esteem issues and depression.

My transition into becoming an artist was interesting. I went from a working actor/aspiring stand-up comedian to driving an ambulance in Los Angeles County. I wanted to be a paramedic for the LAFD. However, repeated patient transports to psychiatric hospitals changed all that nonsense. I discovered the inspirational work of an Art Therapist. I’ve had the privilege to work with children, adolescents and adults suffering from addiction, trauma and mental illness. The past couple of years I’ve been providing art therapy to the elderly to assist with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Let’s rewind…It took Covid…”the lockdown” for me to take that leap of faith, and follow my childhood dream. As a self-taught artist, my inspiration derives from spirituality, humility and empowerment. After experiencing the tragic loss of my still-born daughter and death of her mother, I needed healing…and Art saved my life. Traumatic events, self-loathing and drugs shaped my life, but it also inspired me to create my wearable art brand, Artista Nova.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Never. To quote Bob Ross, “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents.” Some of the challenges was learning the different mediums. Since, I didn’t know the difference between oils and acrylics…I just created in the moment. It is what it is. I kept telling myself, “It’s all about the process.” I’ve only been painting for 12 years. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos and learned how to paint through trial and error. Painting is also an expensive hobby. Starting out, I had the cheapest paints and the worst brushes. Looking back, I guess it made me a better painter. I had to sacrifice romantic relationships. That was challenging. My passion was painting. I spent hours, days, weeks…obsessed with creating art. It was difficult to invest quality time with anyone. Struggles? Nah. It’s all about the process.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in wearable art. Influenced by artivism, the Artista Nova brand creates digital and hand-painted footwear, apparel and accessories, designed to reinvent one’s wardrobe and inspire the soul. The core value is to inspire the lives of others through art fashion and be a catalyst for change.

What I’m most proud of is building trust and credibility with the conscientious consumer. A portion of each sale is donated to charities to enrich the lives of others. Artista Nova, embraces the opportunity to collaborate with those who share the same values and who want to give back to their local communities.

Artista Nova, targets many important causes such as, breast cancer awareness, addiction/recovery and mental illness. Great causes need great designs. Unlike many other cookie-cutter designs supporting a cause or charity, I create chic, trendy and inspirational art fashion you can rock anytime, while championing great causes. I use eco-friendly materials, mediums and upcycled clothing. That’s the recipe for creating my wearable art and reinventing one’s wardrobe or work wear.

What makes you happy?
Seeing the people I care about following their dreams, staying inspired and finding love. Experiencing them overcoming obstacles, hardships and finding a balance in their lives. That makes me happy. Why? Because it’s all about the process, baby!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artistanova.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistanova13/